flexiblefullpage - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
Currently Reading

Remodelers Talk Trends

Advertisement
billboard -
Design

Remodelers Talk Trends

'Consumers are looking for professionals, not price,' says Larry Schaffert, CGR, of Schaffert Construction in Myersville, Md. At the 2000 International Builders Show in Dallas.


March 1, 2000

"Consumers are looking for professionals, not price," says Larry Schaffert, CGR, of Schaffert Construction in Myersville, Md. At the 2000 International Builders Show in Dallas, a panel of three other remodelers, along with Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, agreed that remodeling consumers are well-informed buyers. Typical remodeling clients, at least those identified by this group, are middle-aged and in middle- to upper-income
brackets.

According to Schaffert; Cindy Knutson-Lycholat, CGR; Lynn Motheral; and Lee Zajic, room additions, master bedroom suites, and bath and kitchen remodels are popular in most regions of the country. Knutson-Lycholat, of Knutson Brothers II in East Troy, Wis., says her clients are interested in custom baths. Her work is somewhat unique--most of her clients are remodeling vacation homes. "Because most of the houses I work on don’t conform to zoning regulations, we build up. Second floor additions are popular," she says.

Perhaps because of the lakefront views in her community, Knutson-Lycholat’s clients want lots of windows. "They want big windows--bay windows, transoms, all kinds--just big," she says. She pays close attention to energy efficiency in her work, too.

Zajic’s clients are similar. In his market, Portland, Ore., he says people want to stay put in the established, older neighborhoods. So he also builds up. Because the houses are older, he does a lot of work matching the look of older homes, too.

Each one of the panelists agreed that they really pay attention to universal design concepts in their work. "Things like making doorways wider to accommodate wheelchairs--we do that automatically," says Schaffert. Knutson-Lycholat also incorporates elements such as grab bars into bathroom designs. Motheral says that he closely follows ADA requirements, and his firm is very sensitive to seniors’ needs.

Each panelist had a list of similar features. According to the remodelers on the panel, as well as 500 remodelers surveyed last November at the 1999 Remodelers’ Show, some of the top features include:

  • Natural wood
  • Granite and natural stone surfaces
  • Corian
  • Low-voltage lighting
  • Wood or laminate flooring instead of carpet
  • Stainless steel/commercial-grade appliances
  • Multiple head/steam showers

    Consumers are educated. They know what the trends are, and they usually know what they want, the panelists say. "With the Internet so accessible, most of my clients have done a lot of research on their own," says Motheral. It’s up to remodelers to keep up with the trends.

  • Tags


    Add new comment

    Plain text

    • No HTML tags allowed.
    • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
    • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
    leaderboard2 - default

    Related Stories

    Marvin Releases Switchable Privacy Glass Window

    The privacy glass windows can be purchased from Marvin's Direct Glaze windows

    Building A Small Projects Division from the Ground Up

    Through hard work and careful strategy, Harth Home Services has seen big growth

    Client Design Choices in the Time of Social Media and AI

    Social media speeds up the trend cycles, and now artificially created images are falling into homeowners' hands

    Design Trends to Watch in 2024

    What’s in and out for the upcoming year? Remodeling designers share insights

    Benjamin Moore Announces its Color of the Year 2024

    Will next year be the year of blues?

    Color of the Year 2024 Announced by Sherwin-Williams

    The color is set to mimic ever-present peace

    Insights for Designing Outdoor Kitchens

    Was the pandemic-fueled thirst for outdoor kitchen remodels and additions a fluke, or is it here to stay? Plus: The top design considerations for outdoor kitchens

    Home Run Remodeling Lessons: The New American Remodel 2023

    A final look at The New American Remodel 2023

    Webinar: From Disjointed Design to Cohesive and Efficient—The New American Remodel 2023

    Access the recording for the first The New American Remodel webinar held on March 8 at 2 pm CT

    4 Award-Winning Remodeling Projects to Inspire

    This selection of Best in American Living Award winners showcases balancing of original character with modern-day design

    Advertisement
    boombox2 -
    Advertisement
    halfpage2 -
    Advertisement
    native1 -

    More in Category




    Advertisement
    native2 -
    Advertisement
    halfpage1 -
    Advertisement
    leaderboard1 -